Flashback-stop.



PATEKTED FEB. 18, 1908.

D. OKEBPE. FLASHBACK STOP.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 1 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

y man 60-5 2 PATENTED FEB. 18, 1908.

' D. OKEEPE.

FLASHBAGK s'ror. AYPLICA'IION FILED JAE. 7, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

OF MAlXli.

FLASHBACKLSTOP. V

No. 879,577. g

Specification 'of Letters Patent.

rammed Feb. is, 1908.

Application filed January 7. 1907. Serial No. 351.17g. I 1;.-

To all whom it may com-cm:

Be it known that .l. DANIEL OKEEFE. a citizen of the l'nited States, residing at (incinuati, in the county of llamilton and State of Ohio. hate invented new and useful linprovements in Flashbacli-Stops, of which the following is a specification.

through its pa sage way to the container.

it is a well known fact that vapors, ethers, and carbid and other gases ncluding acetyproportions hare a tendency to "llasl ,-bael\""' mates 1 frame of any suitable shape and masection. Fig. 6 is a detailol' a screen. 7, 8, 9,10, 11 and 12 are details of the stop plunger mechanism. Fig. 13, is a detail of the liquid seal.

Referring now to the drawings: A desig- E terial which in this case is a casting c0n1-' My invention relates to safety devices; adapted to prevent the llama from tlashing i back from th point of normal combustion,

posed generally of the tint bottom (I, the top a, the inlet end a" and the'outlet end a". The top a" has its sides sloped to save ina- Figs;

terial, and its central portion is cored longitudinall to form a passage way a for gas.

; A gas burner i tapped into the passa e lene gas, when unimpeded and brought mto contactwith the. oxygen of the an in certain 5 tion to the body of ('OlHllllStllJlO material in the Container, and in some cases to ignite by spontaneous combustion atthe zone of combustion and flash-back. lleretoforo most of the danger in handling such combustible materials has arisen in this way, and no effective means of overcoming the evil existed. V

My invention is a, flash-back stop, interposed atany convenient ant between that of normal combustion and .tliii container at d adapted to automatically arrest and shut oil' the flame in its progress toward the source of supply.

it may be used where apparatus is swinging gas bracket (I.

stationary, as ordinary city and house light- 5 ing plants: where portable, as motor vehicles and trains; where aerial as indirigible balloons in which case in time of war flexible connections from container to one or more quantities of explosives would permit their separate discharge without. danger of the accidental dischargeol'anyol' the others, bythe use of the- "tlashl-acli through the desired (.olmectioll, and where submerged, as where containerisou ship, or land; and zone of combnstiou is in a caisson, or mines to he exploded, there being suitable, flexible or other connections.

The particular embodiment ofjujr invention selected for illustration, is a flash back stop for acctaione gas. in which:

Figure l,shows the assembled deviccin perspective. Fig. 2, is a side elevation of theassembled device. tion of the entrance end, showing one side hinged down. Fig. 4, is a perspective of the stop plunger mechanism. Fig. 5, is a side elevation of the same in axial, longitudinal Fig. 3, is an exterior eleva-.

a", and eorered ith a cap 1 tapped into t to top 11. 'lhe inlet. end a has an exterior box pierced axially and threaded to rueiva the inlet pipe 1. Gas is tiofi1l'\'C'Ltl from lthe inner end of this pipe through the passage (1 to the. interior of the frame, and from a through passage (1. to passage a, and from passage o through passages :17 and u to the The outlet end a is cored through to form a passage 4* from the central chamber through the ox terior box a", which is threaded internally to reecive the outlet pipe l tonneeted with the passage (1, 1s a passage (1" leading to the passage u.

The flow of gas in the inner end of the passage a" and in passage (1 is controlled by the three way cock B; it being apparent that whenever gas is in the inlet pipe 1, iassages (1 and a nill be conveying the supply to the bracket which is provided n ith' a revolving rock that opens li s\\ inging the bracket out ward. (och B accessible through thcopening 11". The How of gasin the passagesu and a is eontrolled by the three way cot-l; B.

A transverse partition (1 forms a chamber A adapted to receive any suitable numher of screens E, held in proper position by guides a. The screens are designed to take up moisture and dust; or whei'rtreated with c iemieals may act as purifiers of the gasjand actas ward, 'pussfagehii" the flame. The pi'rrtii iou (1 is shaped to form a seat u'" for the Lia-ii, gf hereinafter described, and the ilange 'ol' the stop seat is i'aced ol l to form a seat l'oi' the r1 shaped exteriorly for rent-h euutaet and 70 the flame from the point. of normal l ombusjaililiti aiial deterrent to the'lihlllgsecondary stop gl hereinafter described;

hole is horedi'rom below through tho (,ifcfliu. ferential boss of the partition (1" behiniltho seat a,, and is tapped to receive a pipe 71 which eateries down into a vessel H bolted to the partition 0,". A pipe h is connected to the pipe h by a ball joint h", so that various changes of position of the whole device will i not fall to carrv the open end of the pipe It below the level of liquid, designed to be maintained in the vessel ll, indicated by the line a; I.

A longitudinal partition (1" forms the lower chambe. A into which the gas bracket C extends; also the electric light f hereinafter described. A transverse partition a forms the inner wall of the outlet end a, and incloses a chamber )3 within which is that portion of the casting which contains the l as g and those on the outer edges as ,1.

assages a" and a, and an electric battery Suitable electrical connections 1 connect the battery I and the light f, an others f connect the battery and the stop-seat a 0 to'magnetize said seat. Wires j" are preferably insulated throughout, as are also wires j except whe e exposed for switch contact. The batter and all connections mav be omitted. Partitions a and a form a chamher A adapted to receive the stop mechan- 1SII1 designated as a whole as G. Lugs or pins 0' on the bottom or top or both of the chamber A hold stop mechanism G again-s accitgntal displacement. Stop mechanism G made of metal or other DOD'COIIlhUSt -e material consists of any suitable number of frames, (the three shown in the drawin y, g and g being a convenientmnn r) hel in place in any convenient manner as by top connection g", and. bottom connection g. 11 line with the stop seat is the stop 5; of suitable size and shape to litin the-seat a and prevent gas from )assing throu h the partition a into the c number 40 A; his stop is carried on a )iston rod g which has a potential longitum inal motion through the secondary stop and its sleeve 9 sullicient to carry the stop from its normal position shown in Fig. 2 to the seat. liod g carries ont'he and next the gas outlet orifice a piston y",'which lits the cylinder g and seats'a inst the end of the smaller concentrio cylinder 9. 'l he iston head g, which fits the cylinder 9 and said cylinder y" are filled \vithsome osplos xo as gun-cotton or fulrninating powder, and are capped over by a. screen y adapted to both retain and expose the explosive.

' The cylinders 11" and y arc-held in position by the transverse frames g and g. Sleeveg on the piston roo r ".:looscl v pierces the frame 5! and when not held the springs S carry ihand its nttnchcd se ondary stop toward the secondary seal. 41". (lylindcr 11" may he perforated, to allow llnmc to quickly destro the threads l hcrc nal'lcr described,

and through one of ll:c.-'c perforations the;

thread passes out to tho swih lrconnection, as hereinafter described.

5'; A switch f aday .cd by its own weight to lconlplete the electrical connection f, is lol cated at any convenient point in theichanh her and is provided with a hookf.

A circular member attached to the innor end of th sleeve g". arries a )lurality of hooks g. L'pon rod g, between book lrame lg and frame g is a circular member 9, 1 whose periphery is serrated, and the serra trons g" sharpened to cut threads which normally lie in them out of contact with their edges.

The outer edge of the central ring of the frame g", carries a plurality of hooks g". I The openings in the plate g carry apluralitv of hooks, those on the inner edges designated 5 .l ined to the piston rod 1 is collar g'-" currying a plurality of hooks g'. Adapted to lit snugly within the cylinder 9" is a spring ring g carrying a plurality of hooks 9". There should be a like number of books g", g", g" and g", and serrations g; and they should all be in alinement as on radii of the rod g".

The stop mechanism G is removed and all the parts connected with the stop and sec ondary stop are pulled toward the inlet end of the mechanism exposing collar 9". The spring ring 5 is carried in the same direction as the stops, and brought to rest near the inlet end of the cylinder g where its hooks can be readily gotten at; and where it will he the same distance from the collar g it is intended to remain when device is ready for use. Now a thread. or the like, l of suitable size and strength is carried into the inlet end of the cylinder, and the short end carried out through the desired perforation 1 of the cylinder, and temporarily held by l tying or otherwise. The other end of the thread is now taken and the thread carried spending hook g, until all said hooks arrlilled; then all stops, rods and attachments and ring 9 are simultaneously pushed toward the outlet end of the me hanism, and the short end of the thread is tied to the hook f of the itchf" so as to raise the switch and sustain its weight keeping it out of contact l with [he wiresf Meanwhile the other end {of the thread has been held-taut, and the thread is now passed ll'fllll the last hook g, lthrough one of the inner o icuings ol' the l knife 11"", on to the appropriate hook g all parts-being in the position shown in Fig. 5, thence to the alining hook g", thence to nlining hook g, thence back to the appropriate hook 51", thence through the proper scrration in the knife member g"", over the )roper hook y; and so on until all the hooks have been used, when the thread is carried over the edge of mclnhcr 11" and sccucd as by tying around sleeve y. lt, will be seen i that the uiuxary stop is held no matter what i the positlon of the dc\'icc,.and the secondary l stop is held against the tcnsionof the springs S.

ba k and forth from a hook g' to a correexterior cap.

doors or (overs (17 for tightl "losing the chamber A on either side, are prm ided. A glass door a on either side of the (bomber A tits leak-tighLso that the stop mechanism G may be examined without danger while the (l8\i(6 is in operation. ()uter doors 11"" of metal or other suitable material, im-lose.

both sides, and complete the outer ease.

The exterior terminations of the several gas passages cored into the casting. are bored, tapped and lifted with plugs 11"" u eessible from the exterior. IA waste pipe it pierces the bottom, extends up through the chamber A" and is tapped through the par t-ition 11-", eonneeting the chamber with the exterior. This pipe is provided with :m

(Xot'shown) When it is desired to test the llow of gas into the device from the inlet. pipe, the bracket C may be swung out and llame a plied to its jet; or the cool: B may be properly set so as to open the by-puss, formed by the passages a and a (the ea (1 having been prevlously removed) and lame applied to the jet- D. Then it is desired to test the flow of gas from the device, cork B is set to cut out the by-pass, the (melt B is set to open its by ass, formed by the passages a" and a, an flame applied to the jet 1). ll the fiashbaekjstop mechanism is out of =rder, gas may be supplied to the zone of combustion through the by-pass.

The operation of the deviee is as follows All parts being in the position shown in Fig.

-2, excepting that the doors a and a are assumed to be in position to confine gas to the several chambers Al, and A; gas passes through the inlet pipe P, outer portion of the.

=passage a, cock B, inner portion of the passage a, through the screens E and the axial port in the partition a, into the chamber Thence it enters the inner end of the outlet assage af", passes through the cook B, and the outer end of the passage 0" into the outlet pipe P which conveys it to the zone of combustion, (not shown). Assume an improper mixture of air and gas at this point, causing an explosion ;-the ileum will flash back along the gas passages until it reaches the inner end of was-age u" opposite the screen g", eovering the-end ol' the cylinder g" where the fulminutiug powder or other substance in said cylinder explodes, instantly carrying the piston g", rod fund stop 9' back so that the stop rests in the seat a", shutting oll' coinimunr-ution with the source of supply, and Putting oil the flame therefrom. The magnetized stop-seat furthe! tends to hold the stop in position, for

impact of the explosion and the flame will have caused th" thread i to be severed and the swit hf will have in l u. romplel'ing the batter (Until-(limit l" l liw slop seat. The everance. oi thith" ad will al o tell-aw. the shroud-or top n. hunism, and the springs S will rarrv ui-i stop to its seat additionally sealing: the aperture against communiiulion between i-hambers A and A. It will be seen that th thread will be broken by the l'ori-e ol' iie explosion, burned oil by the flame and out il hr the knife 5 f r the explosion will impart a. rotary mot-ion to the piston and its rod to which latter the knile is lixed.

The liquid seal formed ii the gas pipe I1 with its open end iumiersed in the liquid, the height of which is indie will supply gas under suitable pressure to the chamber A. after the si -g) has shut oil' the supply in the nornml war. The Home mm not llush book thr ugh :1 proper liquid seal and the Home wit 1 tluehamlwr A will almost innm-diately be extingzuished from exhaustion oi the o. en, whit-h will be aeerlerated by the igniti olthe explosive; and burned gases ha e a tenth-no to smother the llume. \Yhere no derive equivalent to the liquid seal is used, no gas combustion can be produced at the normal zone of combustion, until the stops are r-r'set the explosives or l'ulminutes replaeed and the thread resupplied as deseribed:-\\'hile with the, liquid seal added continuous and sale operation is seeured; but tliiseal is in no way necessary to'the proper and safe operation of my device.

It will be apparent that mechanism within the scope of my inventi n may varywidely from that herein described; therefore in l'urtherauee and not in limitation of my invention as herein desi-rihed and i-laimed; l expressly mention tlush melt stop mechanism actuated by explosion onl by explosion and electricity: by explosion and springs; by explosion. electricity and springs: ea -h dependent upon or independent of either or both thread and i-llremi cult-er; also by springs relea ed by lhuue; and all whether depending in partx-ithe: r both upon the vacuum formed or the szaz th ring ell'eet ol' the fumes of fulminzites and explosives.

1 claim as my invention and desire to seeure by Letters Patent. of the linitegl States.

l. A llaslibnek sl p EilpIlSlHg n permanent shell havinp an inlet end an outlet, and means disposed within said shell f r (dosing said inlet said closing means being adopted to be aetuated by the aetionz of the llame ol' the flashback.

2. A flashback stop emszprisinf; a permanent easing, having a gas irzlethnd a gas outlet, a valve adapted to (E-is? said inlet, and means disposed within said casing for automatically actuating said valve said inlet closnent. casing having a gas inlet and a gasout let, a spring-actuated valve adapted to seat from within outwardly, and close said inlet,

and m ans disposed within said casing for relcasing said valve spring by the action ot' the flame f the flashback.

4. A flashback" stop whose supply passage is normally open, explosives disposed in the path ol' the flame within the mechanism and mechanical means adapted to close said pas age by explosives ignited by the flashback.

5. A flashback stop whose supply passage is normallyopen, explosives disposed in the path of the flame within the mechanism and spring actuated stopping means adapted to be released by the explosives ignited b the flashback.

6. A flashback sto whose inlet passage 7 is normally open, explosives disposed in the path of the flame within the mechanism and a combination of inert and spring actuated stopping means adapted to close the inlet passage through the agency of tXplosiTcs ignited by the flashback 7. Combined mechanical and electrical means for preventing the flashing back of flame in a gas passag comprising mechanacal means for maintaining thegas passage normally open said means adapted to be released by the flame as it flashes back through said passage, and the. simultaneous action of the released mechanical means and I the electrical means to close said passage.

8. A flashback stop having three chanihers formed by transverse partitions, screens through which the gas passes on its way to the central chamber, primary and sccondaiy stop-seats with battery and connections for magnetizing said seats. a stop adapted to seal =against said irimary seat, rod and piston at- 45.

tached to said stop, a cylinder within which said pistlin operates, a secondary stop with 5 )rings adapted to carry it into contact with the secondary seat, a series of books. thread so placed il on said hooks as to hold the secondary stop againstthe tension of the springs and the primary stop against disp acement by gravity or violence, a switch adapted to short circuitsaid battery, when --tlie thread to which it is attached is broken,

and a re'ccptacle for explosive opposite the outlet passage.

' t). A flashback stop having three chambers formed by transverse partitions, b)-

. passes for testing both the outlet and inletends thereof, screens through which the gas passes on its wa to the entral chamber, primary and secondary stop-seats with battery and connections for magnetizing said seats, a stop adapted to seal against said )rimary v cylinder within which aid piston operates, a set ondary stop with springs adapted to carrv it into contact with the secondary seat, a series of hooks. thread so placed upon said books as to hold the secondary stop against the tension of the springs and the priniart stop against. displacement by gravity or viiilcncc, a switch adapted to short-circuit said battery, when the thread to which it is attached is broken. and a receptacle for explosive opposite the outlet passage.

it). A flashback stop having three chambers formed by transverse partitions, b \'passcs f r testing both the outlet and inlet ends thereof, screens through which the i gas passes on its way to the. central chamber,

against the tension of the springs and the primary stop against displacement bygravity. or vi lence. a switch adapted to short-circuit said battery, when the thread to which it is attached i broken. and a receptacle for ex pl sivc opposite the outlet passage.

11. A llashbzu:k" stop whose supply passage is normally open. screen partitions intermediate the inlet and outlet. explosives suitably disposed within the mechanism and mechanical means adapted to close said passage by explosives ignited by the flashback."

12- A. flashback stop whose supply passag is normally open. screen artitions intermediate the inlet and outlet, explosives suitably disposed within the inecharnsin and spring actuated stopping means adapted to be released by the explosives ignited by the flashback.

13. A lasliback" stop whose inlet passage is normally opernscrecn partitions intermediate the inlet and outlet, explosives suitably disposed within the mechanism and a combination of inert; and spring-actuatedst-opping means adapted to close the inlet, passage through the agency of explosives ignited bythe flashback. v

' 14. A flashback stop consisting of a liquid seal adapted to admit the. combustible under predetermined pressure in combination with a mechanical gas passage closer, and screen partitions intermediate the inlet and outlet. v I 7 15. A flashback stop consisting of combined mechanical and electrical means forautomatically closing the siipplgpassage against the flashback and scl'gh partiseat, rod and piston attached to sai stop, a i t-ions intermediate the inlet and outlet.

to flame flashing back through the outlet.

A flashback stop whose inlet pasand springs constantly tending to cause said sage. is normally open a spring actuated means for closing this iniet passage, an outlet sto to close the inlet.

assege and non-metaHic-means, destructihie in testimony whereof I have hereunto set 15 5 y flame, for keeping the inlet open against i my hand in presence of two subscribing wit the action of the springs, suit-ably disposed v i in reference to the outlet passage. DANIEL OKEEFE.

17. A flashback stop comprising among 5 its members, an inlet and an outlet, a stop 2 10 for closing said inlet, threads restraim'n said stop from closing said inlet, but expose \Vitnesse s Tnos. J. BELL: HARRY CURRIE SMITH, EDWIN MCFARLAND. 

